Desk attachment.



Patented July ll, I899.

W..B. RATHVUN.

DESK ATTABHMENT.

(Application filed Jam-14, 1898.)

(No Model.)

' UNITED. STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

\VILLIAM R. RATIIVON, OFFLORENCE, COLORADO.

- DESK Armor-mean.

sPEoIFIoATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,850, deed ruiy'i 1, 1899.

i1 Application filed January 14, 1898. SerialNo.'6 66,680. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. RATHVON, of Florence, in the county of Fremont, State of Colorado, have-invented certain new and useful Improvements in Desk Attachments, of which the following is a complete specification, reference being had to the accompany- 4 ing drawings.

The object of my invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive-but efiective device for preventing, Whenever desired, the locking of a desk-top I Covered desks generally are provided with when the desk is closed.

spring-locks which operate automatically to securethe tops when closed. This is a fea I ture of no inconsiderable convenienceiwhen one wishes to lock thedesk; but-it frcq u'ently occurs that a business man desires to close his desk for a few moments to prevent disturbance of his papers or inspection of their.

- contents-by the overcurious in his absence. his a source of annoyance,'however, for one who has frequent occasiontoleave his desk to-find it looked whenever hereturns. My invention=provides simple and convenient means for sustaining the-desketop in the un-.

locked positionwhenever required, but which is adapted tolbe 'instantly-j'throyvn out of opv erat-ion, so as to permit the'locking of thedesk in the usual manner."

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a perspective view of a portion of a desk provided with the preferred form of my attach- Inent, showing the desk-open. Fig. II is a similar view of the same, on an enlarged scale, of a fragment of the'tahle-and'with the top .closed, but-supported'in the unlocked position by my attaohment. Fig. III shows the form-of embodiment of my attachment illustrated in Figs. I andII applied to the table instead of to the top of the desk. In this figure the device is'illustratedin full lines in the operative position. and in dot-ted linesin the inoperative position; Fig. lV isa perspective view of a modified form of. my invention applied as, illustrated in Fig. III, showing the operative positionfin dotted lines and the in- Fig. V is a plied as in Fig.' I- II,,the operative position being illustrated ,infull lines and the inoperative in. dotted lines.

i Referring to the figures on the drawings, 1 indicates a desk of any desired pattern, shape, and dimensions provided, as usual, with a top or apron that may serve as a cover for the table-for example, the roll-top 4.

5 indicates the male lock member, and 6 the to the lower edge or bottom rail 7 of the top 4 and the latter being countersunk in the face of the tahle2. 1 The foregoing elements are those which ordinarily appear in roll-top or other covered desksin general use.

My attachment consists of a supporting membermovably secured to the desk in such a between the top or rail 7 and the table, so as to prevent the lock members from operative en gagement-and its equally readydisplacement from that position when it is desired that the "locking members shall make operative engagemenn The preferred form of embodiment of my which 8 indicates asupporting member, which is preferably made of rubber, but which may be made of cork, felt, or other suitable elastic, seniielastic, or yielding substance. The member 8 is, as illustrated, preferably provided upon its bearing-face with corrugations 9 and may be secured by any suitable means-for example, screws 1Qto one leaf 11 of a hinge, whose other leaf 12 is secured, as by screws 13, to its required position. The shape of the hinge, like that of the member 8, may be varied at will, and any preferred ornamentation or mode of applying the hinge -inpracticc may be employed.

.I prefer to secure my attachment to the desk top orrail'? at a point in front of the rail and adjacent to the lock. It is preferably. located in front in order that on'e'may seewheiherj it is in the operative or inoperative position and preferably located adjacent to the lock inorder to equally support both ends of the rail and prevent its sagging at one end. It is not essential, however, particularly in certain types of desks, that it should be so applied. and .it maybe secured to the table instead of to the rail, if preferred. When secured tothe table, the attachmentis table 2,side pieces 3, and with any suitable.

female lock member, the former beingsecured manner as to permit of its ready i DUBI'POSli'IiOD- invention is illustrated in Figs. I and II, in

preferably located at one end thereof in brder that it may be out of the way.

In Fig.1l-I the form of attachment illustrated in Figsl and II is shown as applied to the table 2; the leavesof the hinge being preferably countersunk therein.

- and is shown in full. lines as slipped back out of the way of the rail.

In Fig. Vthe support-i'ngmember18 isi llustrated as secured to an arm 1%), that is pivotally fastened, as by screw 20, to the face of the table 2." The mode oi" operation of that form of device is similar to that; of the form shownin Fig. IV, except that the swinging I arm 19 takes the place of the slide 16.

What I claim is- 1. In a desk attachment, the combination of one member adapted to be secured to a :desk, 2. second member movably united to the. first-named member, and a supporting member secured solely to the second member and adapted by the movement of the second memberto be interposed between the desk and its top, substantially as set forth;

2. In a desk attachment, the co'n'tbination of one member adapted to .be secured to a desk, a second member pivet-ally unit-ed to the first-named member, and a supporting member secu red solely to the second member and adapted by the movement of'the second member to be interposed between the desk and its top, substantially as set forth.

3. In a desk attachment, the combination with a hinge, of a su pportingmember secu red to one leaf of the hinge, the other leaf of the hinge being adapted to be secured to thedesk,

substantially in the mannerand for thepurpose specified.

In testimony of all which I have hereunto subscribed my name. v

' WILLIAM RRATIWON.

Vvitnesses: I

H. N. MOORE. THOS. ROBINSON.

as I 

